New VA clinic offers audiology, optometry services

Franklin County veterans can get audiology and optometry services at the new Veterans Administration outpatient clinic on Cox Boulevard in Sheffield.

The 16,00 square foot clinic, which officially opened Jan. 16, is more than twice the size of the old clinic.

The clinic, developed in partnership with Matterhorn Capital, LLC, will greatly enhance services for veterans in Franklin, Lauderdale and Colbert counties, according to a release from Birmingham VA Health Care.

It will offer audiology and optometry services, and expanded face-to-face services in primary care, lab services, mental health and telehealth.

There will be 18 patient rooms dedicated to primary care, women’s health and mental health and three dedicated telehealth rooms.

“The increased capacity and range of services aim to better meet the needs of veterans and encourage more to utilize the care and benefits they’ve earned,” the release stated.

“At the end of the day, veterans have a choice,” said Dr. David Walker, director of the VA Southeast Network. “We want the veterans to choose us, because it has been shown that we provide great care, and I believe veterans deserve that care in a state-of-theart clinic like this.”

Dr. Rebecca Huie, a primary care physician with Birmingham VA Health Care, said the 30-person staff from the old clinic has moved into the new clinic. They will add a clerk and an audiologist.

Huie said the new clinic was built with the ability to expand, but that will depend on whether the number of veterans they now treat, 3,8000, increases.

Mary Day Smith, adjutant for American Legion Post 11 in Florence, said the clinic is needed because of the growing number of veterans in the area. She said there are 2,000 veterans in Franklin County, 8,900 in Lauderdale County, and 3,000 in Colbert County.

“We’re thrilled,” Smith said. “This made it easier on the veterans. This will improve the lives of veterans and their families.”